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"Be the person your dog thinks you are." ~Unknown.We welcome comments. Supportive feedback is what we enjoy most, but tips for improvement are valued too. It’s not required that you agree with us, only that you express your opinion civilly. Comments are moderated and will be posted following review. Read more.

Entries from May 2010

May 31, 2010

In memory of those who have served, we are discounting all cat and dog adoptions by 25% today. Our Robins-Starr Humane Center will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., so stop by and visit us at 2519 Hermitage Road. We hope you will consider adding a new four-legged family member to your home today, or telling your friends and social networks about this special.

Each time a pet is adopted from our center, it allows us to save the life of another pet in great need in our community. By giving a pet a home, you've helped to save two lives!

If you've given a home to a pet from the Richmond SPCA, we'd love to see and hear about the joy they bring you. We always welcome alumni updates via e-mail to info@richmondspca.org, or you can post to our Facebook wall, or even send a tweet to @RichmondSPCA. Send us photos or video of your pets taking part in your Memorial Day celebrations!

May 28, 2010

The Office of the Inspector General of the United States
Department of Agriculture issued a report this week blowing the lid off of the
miserably inadequate (actually non-existent) oversight and totally inept
enforcement by the USDA of the regulations related to puppy mills in this
country. The report of the Inspector General provided a damning assessment of
the inspections and enforcement actions by the USDA inspectors of the puppy
mills that they are entrusted to oversee. It concluded that they failed on a
regular basis to properly document inhumane treatment and initiated essentially
no enforcement actions against puppy mills that are in violation of the law.
The OIG inspectors reported having observed shockingly dreadful conditions at
puppy mills that were supposed to have been inspected by the USDA. They
described conditions of cruelty including desperate need for medical care, tick
infestations, starving dogs left with nothing to eat but dogs who had already
died, and food bowls swarming with roaches and insects. The report indicated
that the USDA not only had done nothing about these egregious violations, they
did not even remove the dogs that were suffering in these miserable conditions.

This report, while welcome in its widespread impact,
told us nothing that we at the Richmond SPCA did not already know. We have
always known that the USDA was doing nothing to discharge its responsibilities
under the Animal Welfare Act to oversee and regulate a miserable industry that
prioritizes profit over humane treatment. We have assisted in the breaking up of
a number of puppy mills on the east coast and we have cared for many of the
helpless canine victims of the deeply immoral and irresponsible puppy mill
trade. We have held in our arms dogs suffering from horrible untreated physical
ailments and showing the long term effects of malnutrition and filthy living
conditions. We have poured many thousands of dollars and weeks of heartfelt
care into treating female dogs with mammary tumors from having been bred over
and over mercilessly and dogs with a wide variety of serious untreated
congenital conditions. We have watched dogs begin to experience running on
grass and being treated with affection for the first times in their lives after
years of having never been allowed out of a small wooden box with a wire
bottom. We have helped them to go on to having at least a few remaining years
of life with a real family who loves them such as adorable Arrington pictured
here.

Pet stores, including a number in the Richmond area,
that sell puppy mill puppies have long announced that they “are licensed and
inspected by the USDA” as a way of providing false comfort to buyers that they
are really not buying the progeny of animals living in utter deprivation and
misery. We have always known the horrible circumstances that the parents of
those puppies are being subjected to and now the whole nation knows. The
Secretary of Agriculture said that he took the report very seriously and would
be acting to improve USDA enforcement and the quality of the inspections. We
will hope that actually proves to be the case. Nonetheless, it is incumbent on
all of us who love animals to spread the word that anyone wanting a new four
legged family member should adopt from a shelter or rescue group rather than
buying from a retail business. In so doing, they will save a life, provide the
right example to others and not support an industry that inflicts pain and
suffering on innocent animals for profit.

And to the puppy millers out there who may be thinking
of sending me your nasty comments about this blog piece – save it. We will not
publish them.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 27, 2010

It’s always difficult to comprehend
why someone would part with a family member, but there are a multitude of reasons
why pets are surrendered to shelters. From this data, we gain insights that lead to programs and
services that will make an impact on keeping pets in homes.

One of the features on our website
is a pet-friendly housing guide. Potential renters can search for apartments and
also search a separate database of pet-friendly retirement communities. We’ve
worked to add additional information from these communities about required
deposits and details of weight limits and breed restrictions. We want this to be
a resource that pet guardians use in the early stages of planning a move in
hopes that our admissions team receives fewer of the heartbreaking calls from
renters who have signed a lease that excludes their beloved pets.

However, we realize one limitation
that we have little power to change. Many communities in our area have broad
exclusions of dogs based not on temperament but on breed and size alone. It
becomes a greater challenge for people with these “restricted” dogs to find
appropriate housing, based not on their dogs’ actions or character but on
sweeping generalizations.

There are some communities listed in
our guide that have established more progressive policies, with statements like
“must meet property manager,” that show a willingness to consider pets as
individuals. We’d love to know of more such communities to add to our directory,
but here are a few we know of:

Properties managed
by Space Properties

Courthouse
Green

The Paper
Company

Dominion Olde
West

Gayton
Terrace

Do you rent with a large dog or a
typically restricted breed? Share your experience in the comments. Do you manage
a community with an inclusive or progressive policy toward pets? Let us know!

Tabitha Hanes is the community relations manager for the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 25, 2010

Visitors to our Robins-Starr Humane Center often exclaim with glee or envy when they discover one of our favorite staff benefits. Here, every day is Take Your Dog to Work Day.

My own dog, a 4-year-old Rottweiler named Frieda, is introduced on tours for new volunteers as the “official greeter” for our hallway. She gleefully pops her head over the Dutch door at any opportunity for a pat or ear scratch. She has also become an ambassador for big, goofy dogs everywhere and Rotties in particular. Some of our volunteers seem to have formed Frieda’s unofficial fan club, and I am met with disapproving glances should I arrive in the office without their friend.

Our office policy has enabled some staff members to adopt special needs dogs. Those who are managing separation anxiety especially benefit from this arrangement and see formerly anxious dogs build confidence as they accompany their humans to work.

The humans also see the benefit of reduced stress. Amanda Macdonald, manager of major gifts said, “Your pet helps keep things in perspective when you are overwhelmed – as family members often do.”

Taking a break from a harried workday to go for a walk with your dog has a calming affect, said Gail Bird Necklace, education and training administrator. “It’s peaceful, comforting and creates a work environment that is truly unique and appreciated.”

A little more than a month away, many more offices will become pet-friendly, at least for a day, on Friday, June 25 for Take Your Dog to Work Day. Pet Sitters International launched the concept in 1999 as a way to promote pet adoption. The official TYDTWD website offers a wealth of information, including tips on lobbying your employer to participate. It’s also a great way to hold a fundraiser for orphaned pets at the Richmond SPCA. If you’re organizing at your office, consider asking that each person who brings his dog also make a $5 donation, or if your workplace isn’t the right environment for pets, suggest hosting a “Casual for Canines” day instead.

A formal policy on bringing pets to work has not been necessary here, but there are a few best practices we can pass along:

Current vaccinations are especially important when taking your pet to places other dogs congregate. That’s especially true for those of us working in a humane center. Rabies vaccinations are of course required by law. Check with your veterinarian’s recommended vaccination and booster schedule for Boardatella (aka kennel cough), a highly transmissible respiratory infection.

Be respectful of your office mates. Just like not everyone appreciates the same iTunes playlist, neighbors may be disrupted if your dog is exessively vocal.

Observe your dog’s wishes as well. They’re not all social butterflies, so if you have a homebody, let her be where she’s most comfortable.

Accidents happen – though we find them rare here – be prepared to clean up after your pet.

My lint roller is sometimes the most handy tool on my desk!

Tabitha Hanes is the community relations manager for the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 21, 2010

Earlier this week, a full page ad appeared in the Washington Post picturing several dogs and suggesting that you should be surprised that the Humane Society of the United States (“the HSUS”) is not your local animal shelter and that they “share” less than 1% of money donated to them with “local pet shelters.” The ad appeared to be placed by an organization called “Humanewatch.org.” In reality, it was placed by an organization that calls itself by the misnomer “the Center for Consumer Freedom.”

CCF and its related entities have been on a very well funded and extremely aggressive campaign against both the HSUS and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, among other highly credible non-profits. The organization is funded by large corporate interests in the food and beverage industries who want to halt the legislative efforts of both of those organizations to protect animals from cruelty and people from drunk drivers, respectively. The reason that they wish to halt these efforts is because the efforts threaten their profit-making interests. While my personal views are supportive of both of those organizations and their work, I have no problem with people or organizations who oppose those causes, or any cause for that matter, so long as they do so honestly and without pretense. CCF masquerades as a non-profit concerned with looking out for shelters and for animal welfare when it is anything but. It is an organization that is paid, and paid a great deal, in order to lobby for and promote concepts that are contrary to the best interests of animals and that impede our progress toward relieving the suffering and saving the lives of animals.

The HSUS does not engage in sheltering (although it does operate some sanctuaries) but it provides other programs and other services that are crucial to advancing the well being of animals in this country. Nowhere, that I am aware of, is there a rule that all humane organizations must operate shelters. The HSUS engages in both federal and state legislative campaigns to seek laws that will protect farm animals, companion animals and endangered animals from suffering and death. I was deeply grateful for the resources that the HSUS put into helping us to get the Omnibus Animal Fighting Bill passed in Virginia a couple of years ago. Their help ensured that we got one of the strongest animal fighting bills in the country adopted in Virginia. They also do great work, which we often partner with them in doing, breaking up horrifically abusive puppy mills on the mid-Atlantic in accordance with court orders. They provide massive rescue efforts for animals threatened by natural disasters. They recently stopped at our Robins-Starr Humane Center with their new mobile crime lab for animal cruelty related crimes which they have offered to our and thousands of other communities to assist in the effective prosecution of animal abusers. These are only a few of their valuable programs for animals.

The work of the HSUS and the work of the Richmond SPCA and the work of thousands of other national and local humane organizations all over this country are all essential to achieving success at ending the abuse and needless loss of life of innocent animals. The work of each of these organizations is unique and, together, we all weave a whole coordinated effort to do all we can to protect the animals who need our protection so much. The HSUS has done generous things to support the Richmond SPCA for which I am very grateful but I certainly do not expect the HSUS to regularly “share” its contributed income with us because I understand that their donors have intentionally given the HSUS their money to help to support the programs and services that the HSUS provides. Many of those folks also support us or other humane organizations in their own communities and want us to use that money to continue our own valuable work. Of one thing I am sure, CCF never has and never will do anything to help us.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 18, 2010

You may have seen some news coverage lately about the aggressively lethal approach being taken by the Richmond International Airport toward the small colony of feral cats that has lived there for years without harming anyone. For several years, kind volunteers have brought many of these cats in to our clinic for spaying and neutering and rabies inoculations and have quietly provided them with on-site care. For no apparent reason, the airport management recently decided to take steps to get rid of the cats. We heard about their intentions and so we contacted them several times with the polite request that we be given the chance to meet with them to discuss trap-neuter-return programs and explain why they are the only compassionate and the only effective way of managing feral cat colonies. We offered to help with the recruitment of a reliable group of volunteers to maintain the program.

The airport management never replied to any of our requests but simply began to trap the cats. They took eight of them to Henrico Animal Control (whether they have done anything else with some of the cats we do not know). Henrico Animal Control would of course prefer for this not to happen since these cats are not adoptable to a home environment as a house pet due to their being unsocialized. We have been working constantly with Henrico to find barn homes for these ferals. They have agreed to waive the adoption fee, and we will perform the spay/neuter surgeries and give the inoculations for free in order to help get these cats out of their shelter alive. We have had several very kind people so far who have offered to help by taking some of these cats. We are hopeful that, with the community’s help, we will place them all.

The frustrating thing about all of this to me is the unreasonable and uncaring approach of the airport management. We have a great deal of expertise with feral colony management. We would have been happy to help them find an appropriate non-lethal solution. Instead, without even taking the time to talk with us and learn about ferals, they embarked on a course that is both inhumane and will be ineffective since more cats are likely to return to the area because the conditions continue to exist that support a feral colony. The statements of the airport management made to the news media kept repeating that this is part of their “wildlife mitigation.” This piece of bureaucrat speak is disturbing because suggests that they think that feral cats are wildlife which feral cats absolutely are not under Virginia law. They are companion animals under Virginia law and that status accords them additional protections.

Maybe the Richmond International Airport figures that we all have no choice but to travel through their airport anyway and so they do not care how they are perceived in our community. Maybe they do not care enough about the lives of innocent animals to even take a few minutes to learn from us some valuable information about feral cat colonies. They should care about both these things. Any business should want to be a good corporate citizen and any person should be compassionate enough to try to prevent the unnecessary loss of animals’ lives rather than actually causing that loss of life without any necessity for it. Please do all you can to let the airport management know that you think they have been callous and inhumane with regard to these cats and that it will affect your choices in the future.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 17, 2010

Last week, Tamsen Kingry and I attended the annual Expo of the Humane Society of the United States in Nashville. I had the honor of speaking on the morning of the first day of that national meeting as a part of a day long program presented by Maddie's Fund on creating adoption guarantee communities. My particular topic as a part of that program was about how to move your community toward adoption guarantee and overcome resistance.

The chance to speak along with other humane leaders from around the country on the subject of how to move our communities and our nation toward ending the indefensible killing of healthy and treatable homeless animals was deeply rewarding and energizing to me. When the Richmond SPCA first undertook a decade ago to become a no-kill organization and to work to make our community no-kill, it was highly controversial and out of the national mainstream. It was a remarkable step for one of the oldest humane organizations in the country. We stood up to a lot of criticism for that commitment. Over the intervening years, the correctness of our decision has been confirmed as we have seen a steady movement of other substantial and credible organizations around the country toward the adoption of some version of the adoption guarantee model. (I see no real difference in the terms "no-kill" and "adoption guarantee" other than personal preference.) Now, the HSUS, the ASPCA and the National Federation of Humane Societies have all embraced clearly articulated visions of adoption guarantee as the appropriate model for our nation’s communities and have committed to working for that outcome.

What this all means to me is that the goalposts have been moved a very long way in the right direction. It will doubtless take a while to get to across the goal line all over this country. But, the crucial change that we have watched occur is the growing acknowledgement at the highest levels within our field that a no-kill philosophy is both the right one morally and also an achievable outcome within a very reasonable period of time. The credit for this movement belongs to Rich Avanzino for having had the vision and the courage to articulate and act on that moral conviction before anyone else did. His courageous pioneering of this vision at the San Francisco SPCA and his relentless pushing of this vision at Maddie's Fund have lifted those goalposts and moved them forward for the rest of us. Maddie's Fund has done so much to transform this nation and has been so good to us in their unflagging support for our work in Richmond.

My great pride for the Richmond SPCA is that our Board was one of the first to recognize the rightness and the compelling nature of Rich's vision and had the remarkable courage to make our organization a very earlier adopter of what was to become the way of the future. My gratitude goes out to Ed Sayres and Wayne Pacelle because they both have taken courageous steps to help push this issue as a part of a healthy national dialog and to make it safe for so many other organizations and communities to now embrace it.

I came back from Nashville deeply proud of our field and deeply grateful for the role that I have been allowed to play. It gave me a new optimism for a much better future for our wonderful animal companions and re-energized for the essential role that the Richmond SPCA has and will continue to play as a national leader in transforming this into a more compassionate nation and a safer environment for our homeless companion animals.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her complete biography, or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 11, 2010

Over the last year, our foster care program has grown exponentially. While the majority of the 750 pets who were fostered by dedicated volunteers in 2009 were orphaned, neonatal kittens, there is also a great need for adult animals to be fostered. Some will need foster care as they recover from medical treatment or a surgery, others receive additional training while in a home, and some, like Rina, simply need a break from the shelter environment. When they return to our Robins-Starr Humane Center, we've learned a wealth of new information from their time in foster care.

In Rina's case, we received beautiful photos and a wonderful description of this great 5-year-old Coonhound mix. Here's what her foster parent, Brian, had to say about Rina:

Rina is a very sweet and loving dog. Her favorite thing is going for long walks and generally spending time outdoors. With people she is always friendly and relaxed, but she does not like other dogs or cats or, for some reason, two-wheeled vehicles, especially ones with motors.
Small children also make her a bit nervous though she is not aggressive.
She likes to stare at you expectantly and wag her tail all day. She also likes to rearrange blankets until they are just right. Since Rina is a picky eater, food can be left out all day. We really enjoyed having her in our home, and she has been in the shelter for a long time, so please consider adopting her!

(Click thumbnails for full-size images.)

If there is room in your heart and home for a dog like Rina, contact our adoption center at 804-521-1307 or just pay her a visit at 2519 Hermitage Road. You'll get a polite greeting from Rina, who always extends her paw, whether there's a treat waiting for her or not. This is the perfect week to adopt as our adoption fee is reduced to $40 through May 14!

I also encourage you to consider becoming a foster care provider this summer. Our busiest season for foster care is ahead, as we are beginning to see an influx of orphaned kittens. The next Meet the FostersTM training session is Wednesday, May 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. When you care for a foster pet, we provide all the training, supplies, food, veterinary care, and specialized items you will need to be successful.

Tabitha Hanes is the community relations manager for the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here.

May 06, 2010

This week, May 3 through 9, is recognized as Be Kind to Animals week. This week encourages compassion to animals through education, and we wanted to take a look at some common misconceptions that even loving pet guardians may have.

Myth: I think it’s only fair to allow my dog to have a litter of puppies before I spay her; I don’t want her to miss out on that experience.

Fact: One very important reason to spay your pet is to reduce the possibility of mammary tumors and other life threatening ailments. We provide information about the benefits of having your dog spayed here. Aside from the health reasons for having your pets spayed, there are simply more pets than there are homes for them. Millions of animals across the nation are killed every year because they aren’t adopted and space to care for them is limited. Decreasing births and increasing adoptions from shelters are two main tools used to combat overpopulation and therefore decrease reliance on killing to solve the population problem.

Myth: My dog is always hungry and I feel like a bad owner if I’m not feeding him as much as he wants.

Fact: Your dog’s weight will tell you whether you are feeding the right amount (and providing enough exercise). If Fido is fat, you need to cut back. Check with your veterinarian for guidance, but feeding too much is not kind at all, as excess weight is detrimental to your dog’s health, puts pressure on his organs and makes it hard for him to walk/run/play/breathe/etc. We see many of these same health problems in humans and the health complications can be just as serious for both cats and dogs.

Myth: My cat lives indoors and gets annoyed by her collar. I think it would be better for her if she just didn’t wear one.

Fact: Most cats will learn to wear a collar if you give them a little time and comfortable breakaway collars are available in our Lora Robins gift shop (and elsewhere). Our staff can help you pick the best fit for your pet. In addition to a collar, your feline friend should be microchipped. This procedure is quick, routine, and will help your pet find her way home should she escape and lose her collar. When a stray animal enters a shelter or is taken to a veterinarian’s office, the animal is scanned for a microchip. Having your pet microchipped will increase the likelihood that he or she will make a safe return home. The benefits of microchipping your pet can be further explained in this article; it covers the statistics on pets being returned to their owners through microchips. Visit our website to learn about our upcoming microchip clinic on May 10.

Myth: My dog loves to share food with me. Occasionally I give him chocolate because he likes it; he will be fine.

Fact: Chocolate comes in many different varieties…from baker’s chocolate to milk chocolate. Chocolate will affect your pet differently depending on the amount and type consumed and the size of your pet, but it is never a good food choice for dogs. Theobromine, the chemical that is harmful to dogs, is found in a higher concentration in some chocolates than in others and consuming it can be fatal to dogs. Other foods known to be harmful to dogs include grapes, alcohol, raw onions and chewing gum with the ingredient xylitol. It is important to contact your vet, an emergency vet or the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline to determine whether your pet needs to seek medical attention after consuming something dangerous.

Fact: It’s great if you’ve taken on the responsibility to care for an animal. In this situation though, it is possible that these cats have not been altered, and a few cats today could become a much larger colony tomorrow. The number of feral (unsocialized) cats can be limited through a Trap, Neuter, Return program (TNR). Compassionate volunteers humanely trap these cats, have them neutered, and then return them to their outdoor home. At our Smoky’s Spay/Neuter Clinic, surgery for ferals is provided at no cost to the caretaker and includes a rabies vaccination and physical exam while under anesthesia. One major misconception is that it’s beneficial to relocate these cats. In reality, the cats have found a place they call home; it works for them, they’ve found shelter, food and water. If they’re removed, other cats will take their place since the area provides for those basic needs. For additional Feral Cat Resources visit our website.

Myth: I punish my dog when he runs out into the street. It’s the only way he’ll learn and I have to keep him safe.

Fact: Actually, while keeping your dog safe is a great idea, there are more enjoyable ways for him to learn. Teaching him what you DO want him to do (i.e., wait at the door) is almost always a better plan than punishing him for guessing wrong. And making your dog scared of you will only damage your relationship. Punishing your dog long after his “crime” almost never gets the results you intended either. For example: your dog is excited to see you when you return home from work, but you start yelling at him because of something he did in your absence. Instead of greeting you at the door in the future, he’ll soon learn to stay out of your path for fear of being yelled at again, but he won’t necessarily learn what you planned. The best way to teach your dog is with positive reinforcement, clear communication and patience. Good news is that the process can (and should be) fun for both of you! To find out more about our training methods or to enroll your dog in all sorts of manners/tricks/agility/flyball classes, visit www.richmondspca.org/classes.

Myth: My pet lives indoors and doesn’t seem to like his flea/heartworm medicine. I just want him to be happy, so I don’t give it to him.

Fact: This decision can seriously harm your dog’s health. Even if your pet lives indoors, he/she can still get fleas/heartworms. It is important to always have your pet vaccinated as well as using preventatives according to the recommendations of your veterinarian. The cost of a monthly pill is far less than the cost of treating a heartworm positive pet, which can be very expensive and painful for the animal. The Richmond SPCA offers a low-cost Wellness Clinic for those who qualify.

Lisa Clarke is the assistant for volunteers and community relations. To view the bios of our other bloggers, click here.

May 04, 2010

In today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, syndicated columnist Steve Dale addresses what he considers "responsible breeders," and we thought this a good occasion to revisit a blog that was first posted in 2007.

What is a “responsible breeder”? Google the term and you’ll find innumerable opinions on the subject of ethics and how to carefully choose a breeder; however, I would suggest that this is a mythological creature, much talked about yet never encountered.

As long as euthanasia is still used to control the homeless pet population, all breeders must take a share of responsibility for this problem. Hubris is inherent in their arguments that they are not a part of the problem, implying that somehow the lives of the purebred pets they create are more valuable than the homeless animals who lose their lives in shelters.

An estimated 20 to 25 percent of pets in shelters are in fact “purebred.” Both of my dogs – a Lhasa Apso adopted from the Richmond SPCA, and a Rottweiler who found a place with me that began as “temporary” foster care – come from this percentile. Each had a previous owner who acquired her from a breeder, yet that purchase price did not make Sunny valuable enough to work through housebreaking issues, nor did it make Frieda valuable enough to receive even routine veterinary care. (Both of their names have been changed since they came to live with us, so innocent or not their former owners are protected.)

As much we love our dogs, it has very little to do with their breeding. In fact, I have a bit of purebred guilt that leads me to explain their origins to strangers, lest they think I went to a breeder for one of my dogs. I would feel better about their prospects of long, healthy lives if they had a little more “hybrid vigor.” There is much to be said for a diverse gene pool – reflected in the fact that it’s illegal to marry a sibling or cousin – yet breeders of purebreds by definition exercise tight controls on the genetic materials of their progeny.

Consider carefully what you are supporting before turning to a breeder as the source of your next pet. The purebred pet has nothing to offer in terms of loyalty, companionship and devotion that is not also fulfilled by the mix or mutt.

Tabitha Hanes is the community relations manager for the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here.